COMMERCE CITY - Justin Davis unlocks the classroom door to his morning film studies class in the back halls of Adams City High School. It's the last day of classes and everyone ditched taking his final except for two students.
"Obviously, doesn't happen all the time, but, last day of school," said Davis, English and theater teacher at Adams City High School in Commerce City.
Davis agreed to let 9News follow his actions starting with the last day of school in May through the beginning of the current school year. He wants people to truly understand that teachers are more than what some people imagine.
"We're kind of PR people for learning," said Davis. "It's the access, the key to what you want to do with your life."
Davis is what amounts to being a lead teacher for the Arts Academy at Adams City High School. He says it's his job to keep students enthusiastic about learning even through the final hours before summer vacation.
"I'm not saying that I'm better than anyone else, but I'm saying
I am committed to being better than I was yesterday," said Davis.
His afternoon theater class has a much better turnout. Davis says this class is made up of a group of kids that don't always have the best home lives. He says they're a group of kids who can use someone to look up to.
"Students don't want to be talked at, you know," said Davis. "They want to be talked to. They want to connect."
As the final bells ring, Davis offers hugs to his students as they head into the summer.
"You guys have grown so much in the past year," said Davis to his students.
He says the emotions are always high.
"We think of these kids as our own kids and I want to make sure they're okay," said Davis.
But, the final bell is not the end of the work day. Davis heads down the crowded hallways to supervise as students head out the main doors.
That's when the teacher turns into security guard. Students start a water balloon fight in the hallway. Davis is caught in the middle. He quickly quells the chaos, but the walls are soaked from ceiling to floor.
"You know kids are unwinding. They're unleashing. So, you know, they have to," said Davis.
He says these are the kinds of duties that some people don't realize are in the job description.
"I'm always getting myself into catastrophe situations," said Davis, smiling. "But, I usually can handle it."
Davis heads back to his classroom after most of the students finally leave the hallways. He still has hours of work to complete.
"Right now, got a few papers to grade," said Davis.
He says this is a typical day, even being the last. Davis says during the school year he is easily in the building 12 hours out of 24.
"I literally come in here in this school between 5:45 and 6:00 in the morning - try to get my lesson plans going, of course," said Davis. "I will sometimes be here directing plays, so I'll be here till like 7:00."
Davis sits back down at his desk alone in his classroom. He does have to figure final grades before tomorrow. But, he has a different motivation for wanting to grade his toppling stack of papers on the last day of school.
"You know, I'll keep this stuff over the summer and then try to get it to them when they return," said Davis.
The students will still care after three months?
"I hope they do," said Davis. "And, I care."
Davis says he cares so much that his summer vacation has very little vacation in it at all. He laughs at the notion that teacherS sit by the poolside all summer sipping cocktails.
"Next week I am in a writing workshop. The following week, I'm doing enrichment program and, then I'm doing three weeks of intense study," said Davis. "Bon-bons and champagne in my pocket, as I run around and do all this stuff."
Davis wants to share his life as a teacher. He wants people to know the type of passion you can find in and out of the classroom.
"I'm always going to be learning because I want what's best for my kids," said Davis. "I want to give the kids that are in my classroom the best possible educator."
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